-------- Original Message --------
From: MayorEmail
Subject: RE: Please do something about the change in SFO flight tracks
To: "'Sandy.Bauer@Sun.COM'"
April 2, 2001
Sandra Bauer
sandy.bauer@sun.com
Dear Ms. Bauer,
Thank you for your recent comments on the FAA decision regarding SOIA at
San Francisco International Airport. I appreciate your concerns.
When the City raised its strong concerns last spring about the original
FAA proposal to re-route additional flights over the South Bay, I also
identified our objectives for finding a solution that works for our
neighborhoods and for San Francisco. The original FAA proposal could
have resulted in as many as 300 San Francisco-bound flights over San Jose and
the South Bay. I believe such an outcome is unacceptable for our community.
The airports at San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland form the structure
of the regional air system that serves the Bay Area, and whatever happens
at one facility will have some impact on the others. San Jose recognizes
that SFO has a legitimate concern about improving its on-time performance.
Accordingly, we are not opposed to the installation of technology and
equipment that addresses that concern as long as San Jose and other
South Bay communities do not suffered unfair impacts. I believe the reduced
use alternative proposed by the FAA meets our objectives.
With the recent FAA decision, SOIA would be used only under specific
weather conditions that occur only between seven and ten percent of the year.
This is a vastly reduced impact compared to the original FAA proposal last
year, which would have led to the use of SOIA 100 percent of the time, moving
300 flights a day over the South Bay, everyday regardless of weather
conditions.
In addition, in recognition of San Jose's strong concern about
maintaining the quality of life in our neighborhoods at night, FAA's
reduced-use proposal will prohibit the use of SOIA between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00
a.m. I consider this a very important part of the solution for San Jose and
South Bay neighborhoods.
While I believe the FAA alternative looks promising, I have asked City
staff to review the details of the reduced-use SOIA alternative to ensure the
details of the FAA decision support our objectives that we have sought
in a good solution. In addition, SFO has promised to work with San Jose
Airport staff to monitor the use of SOIA and overflights to ensure that San
Francisco Airport is operating within the parameters of the FAA
decision.
Based on this information, I believe the FAA reduced-use proposal is a
real possibility for addressing the concern we raised with the original FAA
proposal, and it represents a practical and effective solution to
protect our neighborhoods while helping San Francisco improve its operations.
Thank you for you comments.
Sincerely,
Ron Gonzales
Mayor
RG:JW
-----Original Message-----
From: Sandra Bauer [mailto:Sandy.Bauer@Sun.COM]
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2001 10:17 AM
To: MayorEmail
Subject: Please do something about the change in SFO flight tracks
Mayor Gonzales
I am very worried about the increased airport noise over San Jose that
the change in the SFO flight tracks will create.
I'm also scared to death about what all these planes are dumping in our
air! I want an air quality monitor at the airport ASAP and would like a
progress update on talks with the FAA.
It's one thing to sound-proof our homes in the flight path (I own a
townhouse in Lake Santa Clara) but it's entirely another matter with the
increased pollution from all these additional planes, increased chance
for accidents and noise pollution.
How could you let this happen to San Jose?
Sandra Bauer